While Bay of Plenty lost first innings points to Counties Manukau in its Fergus Hickey Rosebowl match played at Manurewa – they missed by just a solitary wicket of grabbing the outright victory.

Batting first on day one, Bay of Plenty was dismissed for 153 with Tim Clarke top scoring with 34 runs.

Day one concluded with Counties Manukau being removed for 193, which gave the first innings advantage to the home side.

Jono Boult wrote his name into Bay of Plenty cricket record books when he took a six-wicket bag in the Counties first innings.

The Bay captain has become one of the few Bay of Plenty representatives to grab the elusive double of a century and six wickets.

The six wickets follow his 107 against Poverty Bay in the 2007/08 season.

Another Bay player to post a significant milestone in the match was vice-captain Ben Williams.

He brought up his 50th game in the Bay of Plenty uniform. He is another to have recorded a century and six wickets for the Bay.

On day two, an invigorated Bay team dominated proceeding, when they blasted 281/4 off just 52 overs.

The Bay of Plenty declaration set Counties a target of 241 to win the match.

Master blaster Brett Hampton was at the crease when the Bay declared with his side's top score of 61 not out, with Joe Carter and Bharat Popli both posting half centuries.

As the afternoon proceeded on day two, the Bay side was in control with the ball, and was a solitary wicket from an outright victory when the match reached its conclusion.

At 166 for the loss of nine wickets, a relieved Counties team took first innings points from the encounter.

Fergus Hickey Result 10/11 December 2011

BOP 153 (T Clarke34; B Hiini 6/66) & 281/4 (Brett Hampton 61no, Joe Carter 55,

Bharat Popli 52, Jono Boult 40, Ben Williams 39no) lost on first innings points to Counties Manukau 193 (B Hiini 60; J Boult 6/46) & 166/9 (Amandeep Singh 3/36, Tony Goodin 2/35, Jono Boult 2/37, Brett Hampton 2/44)